Another reporter then spoke out against the guard, saying, “You just hit a reporter.” The reporter who was hit continued calling out the guard, and the manager responded by cursing at him.

As a result, the Korea Press Photographer’s Association requested for an apology from SM Entertainment’s CEOs and for preventive measures to be taken so that it does not happen again.

In response, SM Entertainment joint CEOs Han Se Min and Nam So Young posted an apology.

They begin, “We sincerely apologize for the the harm received by the press photographer due to the wrong actions of a guard who was in charge of security when our artists were arriving at Incheon Airport on [May] 15. The managers, the security guard who caused trouble, and the CEO of the security guard company went to the press photographer who was harmed and offered their sincere apologies.”

The statement continues, “Disciplinary measures will be taken on the manager who was unable to comprehend the situation correctly and managed it poorly, and we will implement thorough preventive education for all of the managers. In addition, the security guard company will take strict disciplinary measures on the guard who caused trouble, implement thorough preventive education on overall security tasks, and compensate for the damages received by the press photographer.”

Han Se Min and Nam So Young conclude, “We once again apologize for the trouble caused.”